new thread
As I type this message, I stop for a few moments to softly comb my fingers through my long rugged mane. A mane that has seen many dark and troubled times, but also glorious moments.
I suppose I shall begin where it all started, but then... that was nearly three and a half years ago. The time blurs.
Fresh out of high school, I was ready to face the world. But the world was ready for me. It beat me and cast me to the side. I knew I had to change myself if I was to succeed. So I began to let the hair grow.
I came to this board seeking advice on how to care for long hair. And you all came to my aid. I thank you all. But it's been no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise. I had many troubles along the way.
Life went on, much as it does and little changed.
This past August, I began to let it be. A natural state. I quit combing, I quit conditioning. I still washed it, with a baking soda mix. And it began to dread. For four and a half months I let the hair dread.
Until last week. I no longer desired the dreadlocks. I wished to feel the wind blowing through my hair once more. And so I soaked my hair in olive oil and conditioner and set out combing the dreadlocks out. It took me two days to comb them all out.
I lost many hairs in the process, and many were broken during the combing out. I suppose my hair still looks nice, but it feels much thinner to me now. I haven't trimmed it once since I started growing it out 3 and a half years ago. The ends aren't really that bad believe it or not, a few split ends but nothing too bad. These pictures were taken tonight, about a week after combing the dreadlocks out. I'm sorry I don't have pictures of my hair while it was dreading, my computer crashed and I had to have it restored over the winter break, losing all of my files.
Now this message has come to an end. Thank you all for reading. I will die before I cut my hair.
OUTSTANDING.
--Val
Hi Jon!Thank you for posting your story.I honestly feel bad that you and your hair had to endure troubled times but hopefully things are looking better for you:)Your hair history started like mine did as I didn't start growing my hair long until after graduating from High School.I never had long hair during my public schooling years.lol.I was soooo glad to be outa there!I am thankful that I never had to surrender my mane all through my working years to date.I'm probably so hard headed now that NO ONE would make me cut my hair:)As for you I think your hair looks glorious as it looks very similar to mine.I'm quite amazed you were able to undo the dreads even though I've heard it was possible and you proved such.Personally I like all my hairs free so each individual strand can blow whichever way it prefers:)Anyway thanks again for telling us about whats been going on and posting such nice pictures.In spite of the de-dreading I think your hair looks fabulous still;)Cheers my friend.....
Mark
Hey Jon,
That is quite the story! Glad you stuck to it though instead of just cutting the dreads off. I honestly did not know you *could* undo dreads!
-Kif
Thanks, and yes you can "undo" dreads in certain circumstances. Luckily for me, my hair is naturally VERY straight and so my hair did not dread very fast. The only real tight ones were in the back of my head, those required the most soaking and suffered the most damage when taking out. As long as the dreadlocks aren't fully matured and really tightened up it's possible to take them out.
natural state. I quit combing, I quit conditioning. I still washed it, with a baking soda mix. And it began to dread. For four and a half months I let the hair dread.
Hey Jon Mykel,
First of all, your hair looks great! Absolutely awesome! I would like to have hair like yours for myself.
What are "dreadlocks"? I would like to feel the wind blowing through my hair also. Could you elaborate a little about soaking your hair in olive oil and conditioner? Would you recommend this for a guy who is just starting to grow his hair out?
Death before cutting!
Peace! Raymond
Hey man,thanks.
Dreadlocks are basically mats of uncombed hair. You simply quit combing and conditioning your hair and eventually they will form. But once you have them it is rather hard to get them out. It took me two days and lots of pain.
You don't need to soak your hair in conditioner or olive oil, I just did that to help loosen up the hairs in the dreadlocks. But I would certainly use condtioner if your growing your hair out, it helps protect it from breakage and damage that way it can grow to a longer length
Hey man,thanks.
Jon Mykel,
Man, Dreadlocks sounds so uncool.
I am growing my hair out. I would like to grow it out to terminal length and to do whatever I can to help it grow to the greatest length possible. I wash my hair with shampoo every other day. On the other days I wash it with only water. After I shower I comb it back. After I finished getting dressed I brush it with a brush with plastic bristels. During the day and espicially at night I finger comb my hair. I would appreciate your comment on my routine. Could you recommend a conditioner and shoud I leave the conditioner in my hair? When do you apply the conditioner; after washing, after combinb, or after brushing?
Thanks for your help, bro.
Raymond
Raymond....the best "conditioner" I have ever found for longer hair as it becomes (and stays) dryer and more brittle is simply to use some baby oil. About a 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon. Put some in your hands, rub your hands together and then rub through your hair. Apply more as needed. Beats any retail conditioner and easily washes out with your next shampoo. Keeps your hair shiny and soft, too. Have used it for years.
Andy, thanks for the tip. Do I put the baby oil on my hair after I get out of the shower and am combing my wet hair? Do I use it throughout the day as is needed?
Thanks, bro.
Raymond
Raymond...I apply it to slightly damp to dry hair, after showering and towel-drying. If you blow-dry your hair like I do, blow dry it with the oil on your hair. The oil will also really help to straighten your hair while blow-drying it if that's what you're going for. My hair is pretty wavy naturally and with the oil and a round brush, I'm able to blow-dry it and keep it poker straight for the entire day. Just the one time application after showering should hold you for the day. You might have to "experiment" for a few days until you know just the right amount to apply. Start off with less....you can always add more. Also...when you shampoo your hair, concentrate on the roots, not so much on the longer portion. The longer your hair is, the dryer it will be on the ends.
"What are dreadlocks?" Google the term it is pretty basic and commonplace.
Oil and conditioner - with not a little patience is the only way to unwind them. The dreaded 'C' word is the only other method.
You are one of those guys who look like they were born as a lifetime longhair. You obviously made the right decision to cancel out the dreds, your hair looks magnificent in these pictures. Best wishes for a long lifetime of growing your fantastic mane.
Nice story. ;p Thank you for that. Really nice pictures too.
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Welcome aboard, Jon. Your hair looks gorgeous. Had you not mentioned the trial that you went through, I would have never thought that anything bad had happened to your hair. It looks thick to me, and in pristine condition. You have a mane to be proud of.
Scott
Great look Jon. Nice color and texture! Let it grow n flow!
peace, jonalbear
Wow your hair is a testament to perserverance, with what you have described going through to get it back to that state it's amazing! I don't know if I could have the patience to undo what you described.
Well done!!
MattT
I wish I had the courage to let my hair grow out like you guys. I've tried it at least three times but have always gave into the criticism and comments about my long hair that I eventually cut my hair.
Little over a year ago I grew my hair out to my shoulders. *I* thought it looked great. But alas business associates and my own significant other told me I didn't look good in it, my son said I'm not an artist/musician, I'm the President of my own business and I should look like one. So, I gave in a cut my hair. Maybe when I finally retire, I will finally let my hair grow out and not care about what everyone else thinks.
"Maybe if..."
"Maybe when..."
"Maybe if" you don't find the courage to be true to yourself and grow your hair out now, you never will. "Maybe when" you find the integrity and strength of spirit to express your true self, you will teach your son and significant other an important lesson about what it means to live authentically. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, my friend. Don't wait to live life on your own terms. On your final day, your greatest regrets--perhaps your only regrets--will not be the things you did, but the things you always wanted to do, but didn't.
If you want to have long hair because you feel it would be an honest expression of your inner self, then just stop cutting your hair off, and let the world keep turning.
--Val
Val:
Thank you for the inspirational text. I think the last time I cut it, I cut it because the company had a booth at a community business show.
I have noticed, however, that I have become more "approachable" by others in the buisness and even my personal life. I think with the long hair I looked too intimidating. I am convinced at what others have told me; I just don't look good in long hair.
Maybe in another life.
Thanks for the comment, you are the only one who did, and I do appreciate it.
Latino
You're very welcome. If you ever decide to let your hair grow long, there are plenty of people here that are willing to offer advice and encouragement.
Be well,
Val
Thanks for sharing your story and your pics. Your hair looks fantastic, and if you hadn't said it had been in dreads, I don't think anyone could tell.
You won't actually have lost very much hair, apart from the odd strand which has been yanked out, but it will feel thinner, because when you form dreads, it stops shed hairs falling out. It's the same with corn rows or any type of braiding, which is why some people panic and think they're losing all their hair when they take them out. You'll probably notice what feels like a lot of shedding from now on. There will be lots of hair in the carpet, on your clothes, everywhere, but there's no need to worry about that.
You're lucky that you didn't have to resort to the "c" word, because that's usually the only way to de-dread.
Enjoy the wind in your hair!